Experience

Dine and Discover: Full Moon Hike to Taft Point — Trip 2

Dine and Discover: Full Moon Hike to Taft Point — Trip 2

July 16, 2019

Spend an entertaining and educational mid-summer Tuesday evening at an iconic viewpoint off Glacier Point Road. Take an easy mile-long hike to Taft Point, which offers breathtaking views of Yosemite Valley, including Half Dome and El Capitan, and of Sierra peaks stretching into the distance. As you admire Yosemite from above, enjoy an al fresco meal and take advantage of the perfect stargazing setting. Your naturalist guide will whet your intellectual appetite with information about the area’s natural and human history, from the point’s presidential name to the giant fissures gouged out of granite.

After getting your fill of food, facts and stargazing, hike back out under the light of a full moon. Don’t forget to bring your camera — and your curiosity!

Included with your registration:

An evening hike with refreshments starting at 6 pm, lasting about six hours. Meet at the Taft Point trailhead on the Glacier Point Road. There will be an optional carpool from Yosemite Valley, if anyone is interested, at 5 pm.

Park entry (as needed).

Camping included, if needed; limited sites are shared among all the participants (arrive July 16 and depart July 17) at Upper Pines Campground.

Note: There is no discount if you choose not to use our gate pass or campsites. Information about upgrading your accommodations to stay at Curry Village will be emailed to you after you sign up. The option to upgrade expires 45 days before the program.

Dan Webster

Dan's first wilderness job in California was as a forest fire fighter. He now teaches about the role played by fire in forest ecology. These days, he is a Sierra Nevada-based naturalist, birder, hiker, and father of two boys who love being outside. In addition to enjoying and interpreting the wonders of Yosemite, Dan was the director of a summer camp in Western Maine where he led wilderness trips for 23 years. Dan's motto is, "Any day in the mountains is a good day." His guided tours weave together science, wonder and joy for a deeper appreciation of nature.

Guide

Jon-Paul Salonen

Jon-Paul Salonen grew up in the Sierra foothills and fell in love with Yosemite and High Sierra as an adolescent, and has now been exploring and delighting in the Sierra for over 20 years. Well accustomed to recreational group camping with family and friends (he is a proud father of two fabulous, nature-loving daughters), he has led backpacking trips and has assisted with leading several day-trips each summer over the past five years. Jon-Paul is a registered Wilderness First Responder, Leave No Trace advocate and member of the Mariposa Search and Rescue. He is also a registered yoga instructor, holistic health educator, gourmet cook and loves to make merriment in the mountains!